nominations academy Awards, Usa best Actor In A Leading Role: Charles Chaplin best Actor In A Supporting Role: Jack Oakie best Music, Original Score: Meredith Willson best Picture Best Writing, Original Screenplay: Charles Chaplin
satellite Awards best Classic Dvd Release Wins
jussi Awards best Foreign Filmmaker: Charles Chaplin
kinema Junpo Awards best Foreign Language Film: Charles Chaplin
national Film Preservation Board, Usa national Film Registry
new York Film Critics Circle Awards best Actor: Charles Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin is often sited as one of the five most influenctial people of 20th century amongst Einstein, Gandhiji , Freud and Adolf Hitler. In Great Dictator- Chaplin famously spoofed Hitler- but not many people know that he was criticized for doing to , in fact the film was about to be banned in Britain and discouraged by US govt. due to the then pro-Germany policies.
When it comes to research and trivia: The Great Dictator is a goldmine to film historians, historians and billions of Chaplin fans.
It was Chaplin’s first talkie…..it was one of the first films to satirize Nazis ( and remained one of the last for almost 30 years after war)……., Hitler had seen the film twice ( Chaplin famously mentioned” I would give anything to know what he said”),…… it was commercially Chaplin’s most successful but risky project.
The story of adorable barber whose doppelganger in none other than the great dictator – when you see the film- you are amazed at the vision of Chaplin in prophesying evils of totalitarianism.. Chaplin had heard of Nazi bruitality- but the reality was actually not known outside… it was then the film was made, which correctly depicted what a dwarfish megalomaniac can do to ruin civilization, human hope and trust. Chaplin later lamented this vision when the world came to know full extent of Nazi atrocities.
The film is simply over cluttered with brilliant moments, amazing pacing, genius comedy and moving emotions.. the iconic scenes of Chaplin playing with a buoyant globe or Chaplin shaving a customer in tune with Brahms’ music are quoted time and again for their pure cinematic qualities.
The moving message in the climax ( called naïve by the critics then) and underlying humanity ( a Chaplin trademark) of the film truly make it a must watch even now. We of course should not insult Chaplin by mentioning that the music, comedic elements and narrative of the film are outstanding to say the least. Its not for nothing that this film is called the greatest film by the greatest filmmaker ever.
Charles Chaplin got the idea when a friend, Alexander Korda, noted that his screen persona and Adolf Hitler looked somewhat similar.
When Chaplin learned of Hitler's policies of racial oppression and nationalist aggression, he used their similarities as an inspiration to attack Hitler on film.
Charles Chaplin said that had he known the true extent of Nazi atrocities, he "could not have made fun of their homicidal insanity
The German spoken by the dictator is complete nonsense. The language in which the shop signs, posters, etc in the "Jewish" quarter are written is Esperanto, a language created in 1887 by Dr L.L. Zamenhof, a Polish Jew.
When this film was released, Adolf Hitler banned it in Germany and in all countries occupied by the Nazis. Curiosity eventually got the best of him and he had a print brought in through Portugal. He screened it not once but twice. Unfortunately, history did not record his reaction to the film. When told of this, Charles Chaplin said, "I'd give anything to know what he thought of it."
Released 13 years after the end of the silent era, this was Charles Chaplin's first all-talking, all-sound film.
According to documentaries on the making of the film, Charles Chaplin began to feel more uncomfortable lampooning Adolf Hitler the more he heard of Hitler's actions in Europe. Ultimately, the invasion of France inspired Chaplin to change the ending of his film to include his famous speech.
Charles Chaplin said wearing Hynkel's costume made him feel more aggressive, and those close to him remember him being more difficult to work with on days he was shooting as Hynkel.
According to his biographer David Robinson, Charles Chaplin despised script girls and refused to abide by their guidance, resulting in continuity lapses in this movie.
Charles Chaplin considered Adolf Hitler to be one of the greatest actors he had ever seen, while Hitler assumed that Chaplin was a Jew.
When he had heard that studios were trying to discourage him from making the film, President Franklin Roosevelt sent a representative, Harry Hopkins, to Chaplin to encourage him to make the film.
General Eisenhower personally requested French dubbed versions of the film from Chaplin for distribution in France after the Allied victory there.
Although Charles Chaplin plays the role of the barber and the dictator, the credits read "Any resemblance between Hynkel the dictator and the Jewish barber
is purely co-incidental"
13 people are lined up- each with a revolver in their hand –pointing to the next person in line… when the sign is given- they have to fire. Whoever dies- is out of the game. ...MORE
